Letters: Liquor lobby out-of-touch with Hoosiers

A recent poll reveals that Hoosiers strongly favor the reform of Indiana's archaic liquor laws. A large majority - 71% - believe that all licensed retailers should be allowed to sell cold beer. A similar majority - 65% - favor Sunday carry-out liquor sales. In response to the publication of these results, the Indiana liquor lobby, through the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, released this astonishing statement:

"Indiana must continue to have strict alcohol regulations because when abused or used irresponsibly alcohol can destroy lives, families, and communities,” said Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers Vice Chair Jon Sinder. “Big Oil is well-intentioned with their polls and campaign. However, they miss the point – alcohol is a dangerous commodity. It is not meant to be convenient. The small business members of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers remain committed to their mandate from the State of Indiana to protect Hoosiers while preserving access to these dangerous substances in their communities. As our state continues to be embroiled in a deepening addiction crisis, it is more important than ever that we look for ways to control access to potentially fatal commodities, not continue down the road of deregulation.”

You see, dear Hoosiers, the booze peddlers (who will happily sell you as much alcohol as you can possibly afford during six days of the week) need to withhold their "potentially fatal commodities" from you on Sunday, to save you from yourself! And the really shocking part? They actually believe that you are stupid enough to believe that bunk.

That's right. The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers apparently believes that you are incapable of forming your own opinion that, just perhaps, liquor store owners don't want to lose money when you are allowed to buy a 12-pack of beer and a bottle of wine with the rest of your groceries on Sunday. No, not that! The liquor lobby is protecting you because you are simply incapable of consuming their "potentially fatal commodities" in a responsible fashion on Sunday. (And of course you're also not smart enough to figure out that if you are inclined to abuse alcohol on a Sunday, you can either stock up on Saturday or simply get into your car and drive to a bar or restaurant.)

It is understandable when any industry tries to protect itself - and maximize its profits along the way. But when the Indiana liquor lobby tries to sell you on the idea that it's not actually driven by profit at all - that it only has your health, happiness and well-being in mind - it's telling you that you are an idiot. Because only an idiot could possibly believe that message.

The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers has held sway over Indiana's General Assembly for far too long - and the poll just released reveals that Hoosiers are tired of it. It's time to dramatically revamp Indiana's liquor laws.

Guy A. Relford

Indianapolis

Will mayors pay to fight climate change?

Matthew Tully may be giving Indiana mayors too much credit for their responses to President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord - but I support Tully's call to look at their actions.

Under the Paris climate accord, the U.S. pledged $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund to help poorer nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions. $1 billion has been paid. President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord will cause a $2 billion shortfall.

As Tully noted, several Indiana mayors, including South Bend's Pete Buttigieg and Bloomington's John Hamilton, endorsed a letter promising to "adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments" of the Paris accord. Will these mayors take a step beyond soundbites, letters, and convening committees? Do they intend to write the Green Climate Fund a check from Indiana taxpayer funds to help cover the $2 billion shortfall?

If so, then they are truly mayors of action. And their constituents will determine whether this was a wise use of taxpayer money, or whether the funds would have been better spent addressing any of the more immediate challenges facing our communities.

Zachary Jacob

Indianapolis

Family breakdown hurts children

Week after week the IndyStar headlines shine a spotlight on the growing scourge of child abuse, drug addictions and childhood hunger to name just a few of the many ills facing our society.

As helpful as the many programs and grants try to be in solving these problems, they merely address and attempt to treat the symptoms of our illnesses, not the cause.

The family as God designed it has been undermined in the last 50 years to the point where almost half of all births occur to women who are single or living with a non marital partner. This is not meant to place blame on any group of people, only to point out that something must change and that change must come from seeking Truth. Discovering that we are loved by God and that his laws are meant for our good would go a long way towards addressing the root cause of many of the ills we face as individuals, as a family and as a society.

And to those of you who feed the hungry, comfort the drug-addicted infant, support those in need or are simply doing the best you can in the circumstances you are in, God bless you!

Lucy Bedwell

Indianapolis

Attorney general wrong about marijuana

I write to voice my opposition to Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s recent op-ed about marijuana. I was happy to see that Hill can see that national trends are tilting in favor of legalization. Before I begin, I should state that I agree that marijuana users should not be impaired while driving. For me, it’s the same concept as a person who is drinking alcohol and driving. It’s wrong.

I think the underlying issue for the attorney general is quite simple: fear of the unknown and money. So let’s talk money first. When we have people in jails and in prisons…that equals money. For me, I would like to see Indiana release any person who was convicted of a non-violent marijuana charge. Think about the space that it would free up both in the jails and prisons, but also court dockets too.

Further, look at Colorado. This November, Colorado will celebrate five years of legal marijuana cultivation, distribution, and personal use. Colorado is still a state. The sky has not fallen.

Additionally, Colorado was also able to tax and regulate this industry which resulted in additional monies coming into the state’s treasury. Wouldn’t it be nice to have more money for our infrastructure or maybe education here in Indiana?

What I think is pretty telling, however, was at the same time Hill was writing his op-ed for the IndyStar, Veterans Administration Secretary David Shulkins was speaking at the White House about the possibility of using medical marijuana for the treatment of veterans. And, rightfully so. With our veterans taking their lives at an alarming rate of 22 soldiers a day, the Secretary is right to put everything on the table to see what works and what does not. If our veterans want to use medical marijuana to help them in their every day lives, then who are we to stand in their way. Perhaps AG Hill should have picked up the phone and called over to the American Legion for the State of Indiana and asked for their opinion.

On a more personal level, I wonder if Hill has ever met a family who has a son or daughter who suffers from seizures? Where the doctors are stumped and the only thing that helps their son or daughter is medical marijuana. If not, he needs too. How about a family whose family member has Parkinson’s Disease? He should listen carefully to the families telling their story. People like this exist. Stories like this exist.

After a full review of Hill’s piece, it is clear that he is just another example of an out-of-touch politician making decisions for Hoosiers that they should be able to make for themselves. At the end of the day, we need fresh new ideas and leadership at our Statehouse.

Every year, I look forward to State Sen. Karen Talian introducing her bill on this topic and hope this is the year our veterans and those afflicted, who may be treated with medical marijuana, may have it. Hopefully, this is the year that Hoosiers and our representatives begin having an adult conversation about marijuana, not just an opinion from Hill who continues to bury his head in the sand.

J.D. Ford

Indianapolis

Cold beer sales would fuel drunk driving

In all of the debate I have seen and heard concerning the sale of cold beer at convenience stores, I have not heard or seen any mention of what seems to me to be the central reason for not allowing such sales. Namely that it is a measure aimed at discouraging drunk driving. They did not want to make it easy for someone to fill their car with gas, walk into the store to pay their bill, and with a single payment, walk out to their car with a full tank of gas and a cold beer in hand ready to head down the road.